Draft-gear for railway-cars.



W. R. MATTHEWS.

DRAFT GEAR FOR RAILWAY GARS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11, 1907.

Patented May 25, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wi h1 @aseo W. R. MATTHEWS.

DRAFT GEAR lPOB. RAILWAY GARS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11, 1907.

Patented May 25, 1909,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@vim @ons rus nomas nerim co., wasnmarun, n. c

W. R. MATTHEWS,

. DRAFT GEAR POB. RAILWAY GARS.

APPLICATION FILED szPT.11,19o7..

922,708. A Patented May 25, 1909.

3 SHEETS-.SHEET 3.

TINTTEIO STATES PATENT OETFTQE.

:WILLIAM It. MATTHEWS, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THEMCOONWAY da TORLEY COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OFPENNSYL- VAN IA.

Application filed September 11, 1907.

To all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that I, NiLLIAM R. MAT- 'r'nnws, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful 'inprovements inDraft-Gear for Railway-Cars; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

My invention relates to the construction of draft gear for railway cars,and has for its object the production of simple and efficient draftappliances which shall enable cars to pass around very sharp curveswithout subjecting the car platform to excessive lateral strains. Theconstruction and arrangement of the several parts of my device are suchthat the coupler constantly tends to assume its normal position in thelongitudinal aXis of the car.

In the drawings chosen for the purpose of illustrating my invention, thescope whereof is pointed out in the claims, Figure l is a plan view of adraft gear embodying my invention and of the adjacent parts of the carunderframing, the parts being illustrated in the position they assumewhen the car is standing on a straight track 5 Fig. 2 is a view similarto Eig, l, but illustrating the relative positions occupied by theseveral parts of the draft gear when cars siXty feet in length arepassing around a curve of thirty-five feet radius; Fig. 3 is a view,partly in side elevation and partly in central section, of the devicesillustrated in Fig. l Fig. 4 is an enlarged, vertical central section ofthe yoke or spring pocket and portions of its connections 5 and Eig. 5is a detail section taken on the line 5-5, Fig. l.

Like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur.

I will now proceed. to describe iny invention more fully, so that othersskilled in the art to which it appertains may apply the same.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the coupler head which, if desired, may berigidly connected to the coupler shank or draft stem 2, but which ispreferably pivoted on said draft stem in a manner such that the twoparts may have a relative movement under the control of suitable springmechanism by Specification of Letters Patent.

i ferred to support the rear end of the yoke 110Y Patented May 25, 1909.

Serial No. 392,331.

which said head is normally centralized with respect to said stem. Therear end of the draft stem 2 is attached to the yoke or spring-pocket 3in any manner which will permit the usual draft spring 4 to becompressed in buffing. In the construction illustrated, this purpose isaccomplished by forming said yoke 3 with oppositely disposedlongitudinal slots 5, through which, and through the rear end of thedraft stem 2, a bolt 6 passes. It is preferred not to depend upon thebolt 6 for transmitting draft strains from the draft stem 2 to the yoke3, but to form the inner end of said draft stem with shoulders which areengaged by the inturned ends of the yoke in a well known manner.

The draft spring 4, which is located within the yoke 3, is seated at itsrear end upon said yoke and at its forward end bears upon a follower 7that abuts the rear end of the draft stem 2. The follower 7 isrestrained from forward movement by the tail bolt 8, which is pivotallyattached to the abutment member 9 and which passes through the yoke 3,the draft spring 4 and the said fol- .lower 7. The rear end of the draftstem 2 is cored to receive the forward end of the tailbolt during abuffing operation of the parts, and the abutment casting 9 is preferablyformed with separated lugs or flanges l() between which the saidtail-bolt is pivoted by a bolt l1. The abutment casting 9 thus bothsupports and confines the rear end of the draft gear.

The abutment member 9 may be attached to the car underframing either bybolts, as shown, or in any other suitable manner. The socket formed inthe member 9 for the reception of the enlarged end of the tail-bolt S isconstructed with outwardly diverging walls, as shown in dotted lines at12, in order to permit the lateral swinging of the draft appliances, andthe outer faces of the pivot lugs l0, with which the rear end of theyoke is preferably arranged to engage when buffing, are suitably roundedto also permit lateral oscillation of the draft rigging devices. Ifdesired the entire buiiing strain may be transmitted to the abutmentcasting 9 through the tail-bolt 8, as the enlarged l head of the latterbears against that end of the yoke upon which the draft spring 4 isseated, but as bufiing strains are normally so much greater than draftstrains it 1s predirectly by the abutment casting 9, as well structionillustrated in the drawings for ac4 as through the tail-bolt 8.

13 indicates a spring cushion Vbuffer which is mounted on the end of thecar so that it may reciprocate in a horizontal plane. In the drawingsthe end of the car platform and the buffer are both shown as of curvedform, since my invention is illustrated as applied to a type of car thatis commonly in use upon lines having exceedingly shar curves, but it isto be understood that this invention is equally applicable to p latformsand buffers of other forms. The buffer 13 is preferably formed with abuffer plate 14 and a foot plate 15 which are integrally united, thelatter extending rearwardly immediately beneath the foot-plate housing16 which is secured to the car platform. At equal distances from thecenter of the buder 13, and pivotally attached to said buffer, as at 17,are rearwardly extending buier stems 18 that are supported from the carframing in a manner to permit reciprocation longitudinally of the car.The forward portion of each buffer stem is preferably square incross-section, while the rearward portion is preferably round and ofless cross-sectional area. The shoulders thus formed upon thebuffer-stems 18 operate as stops for the ringwashers 19, one of which isapplied to each of said stems. Surrounding the rear portion of eachbuifer-stem is a buffer spring 2O that is interposed between theappropriate ring-washer 19 and a buffer stop 21 whichis f secured to theunderframing and which forms a support and guide for the reciprocatorybuffer-stem- The forward portion of each buffer stem 18 is guided by itsrespective buffer-guide or thimble 22, the latter being set in a mortiseformed in the end sill of the car platform.

Pivotally attached to the buffer 13 in the longitudinal axis of the car,by means of a bolt 23 or in other suitable manner, is an equalizermember 24 the rear end of which is attached to the coupler draft stem 2in front of the draft spring 4 by a pin and slot connection. The pin 25of this pin and slot connection is preferably mounted on the draft stem2 a short distance in advance vof the forward end of the yoke 3, whilethe slot 26 is preferably formed in the equalizer member 24, said slotbeing sufficiently long to let the bolt 25 move forward under draftstrains without communicating such strains to the equalizer.

For the purpose of supportingthe coupler during its lateral swingingmovements, it is preferred to employ a curved supporting rail 27 whichis suspended by bolts, or in other suitable manner, from the under sideof the car platform.

The mechanism for centralizing the coupler head l with respect to thedraft stem 2 complishing this purpose consisting of a spring 28 which isinterposed between flanged spring cups 29 that bear at their outer endsupon the lateral walls of the coupler head. The spring and spring cupsare mounted in a transverse aperture formed in the draft stem 2, and thelatter is provided with lugs or flanges 30 by which one of the springcups is forced toward the other whenever the coupler head 1 is displacedfrom its normal central position. The compression thus induced in thespring 23 by the approach of the spring cups will cause the coupler headto return to a central position with respect to the draft stem 2whenever the force acting on the spring cups is withdrawn, as will bereadily understood.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed for actuating the lock 31 topermit cars to be uncoupled, but it is preferred to employ for thispurpose a coupler release rigging such as that described in my pendingapplication Serial Number 375,065, filed May 22, i907.

The construction and arrangement of the several parts of the draft-gearbeing substantially such as hereinbefore pointed. out, the operation ofthe mechanism will be as follows:

Assuming the parts to be in normal position, as illustrated in Figs. 1,3 and 4 of the drawings, a draft strain upon the coupler head 1 exertedin the longitudinal axis of the car will cause the draft stem 2 and yoke3 to move forward, and as the follower 7 is restrained from forwardmovement by the tail-bolt 8 the draft spring` 4 will be compressedbetween said follower and the rear end of the yoke 3. movement of thecoupler, the buffer devices are unaffected, since the pin 25 by whichthe equalizer 24 is connected to the draft stem 2 merely moves forwardin the slot 26.

When a buffing force is applied to the coupler in the longitudinal axisof the car, the draft stem 2 forces the follower 7 rearwardly, and asthe yoke 3 and tail-bolt 8 are prevented from retreating by the abutmentcasting 9 the spring 4 is compressed. relative movement of the yoke 3and draft stem 2 necessary to accomplish the compression of the spring 4in bufiing is permitted by the pin and slot connection between said yokeand draft stem. lf the buffers 13 on adjacent cars are not already incontact when this bufiing operation is begun, the draft stem 2, actingthrough the bolt 25 and equalizer' 24, will transmit a por- The I Duringthis forward i tion of the buffing force to the said buffer 13,

which will, in turn, transmit it to the buffer springs 2G through themedium of the buffer stems 18, ring washers 19 and buffer stops 21.

When the coupler is laterally displaced may be of any desired character,the conl from its normal position in the longitudinal i exis of the cer,the equelizer ineinber 24 is likewise displeced end thc point of'ettechnient ol the two nienibers no longer lies in the line connecting`the points oi. pivotel ettechinent ol the dreft stein end equelizer tothe underfreining end buffer, respectively. Since this leteieldispleceinent of tho connecting point oi the equalizer 24 end dreiitstein. 2 tends to ceuse the point of ettechinent of seid equalizer withthe buffer 13 to epproiich the pivot pin 11 cerricd by thc elfutnientcesting 9, end since the equeliyicr 2-1 is precticelly inextensiblewhile the drei't spring -fl perniits the distance between the pivot pins11 end 25 to be increased, it results thet the leterel displscenient ofthe coupler ceuses e rearward inotion of the bnilfer 13 end e consequentcoinpression olf thc bui-Ter springs 2G, end else ceuses e seperiitionol" the seid pivot pins 11 end 25 with e consequent coinpression or thedraft spring Li. lt will be epperent thet soon es the torce ceusing theleterel displeceinent of the coupler is withdrawn, the springs 4 end 20will rcessunie their respective norinel lengths, end in so doing willreturn the coupler end equalizer to their norinel positions in thelongitudinal exis of the cer.

Hot only ere the dreit spring l end builer springs 2O conipressed whenthe coupler is leterelly displeced, but the coupler heed centeringspring 28 is else coinpressed, es heretolore exple ined ll'evin' thusdescribed niy invention, whet 1 cleiin end desire to secure by LettersPetent is:

i. 1n e device ol the cheiecter indiceted, the coinbinetien with couplerwhich is provided with ineens whereby it iney be pivotelly connected tothe body ol3 e cer, of butler inechenisni, e drelit spring errenged toresist e letrel displeccinent of seid coupler, end ineens operetivelyconnecting seid coupler end seid buffer inechenisin whereby seidbu'li'cr niechenisni constantly tends to centrelize seid Coupler.

in e device ci the cherecter indiceted,

the coinbinetioii with e coupler which is provided with ineens wherebyit iney be pivoteliy connected to the body of e cer in e yieldingnienner, of bulier niechenisin, end buiifer controlled ineens wherebythe coupler is centralized eiter being displeced frein its norinelposition in the longitudinel exis of the cer, seid buil'er inechenisinbeing unel'liected by dreiit forces epplied to the coupler in the.iongitudinel exis of the cer.

3. in e device of the cherecter indiceted, the coinbinetion with ecoupler which is provided with ineens whereby it iney be pivoti ellyconnected to the body of e cer, of buffer inechenisin, which isunei'iected by forwerd longitudinel inovenients of the coupler, endineens whereby the leterel displeceinent ol :risa hij) the coupler freniits ci-nitrelized position is resisted by tlieseid bulier niechenisin.

e. 1n e device olt the cherecter indicetcd, i the coinbinetion with ecoupler which is provided with ineens whereby it niey be pivotellyconnected to the body of e cer, of e drei't spring errenged to resist eleterel displeceinent ol' seid coupler, e spring cushioned butler, endineens whereby the leterel displecenient ol" the coupler troni itscentrelized position is resisted by seid butler.

5. .ln e device oi' the cherecter indiceted, the conihnetion with ecoupler which is provided with ineens whereby it iney be pivotellyconnected to the body of e cer in e yielding inenner, of e dreft spring,e spring cushioned buffer, end env equelizer ineinber v-fhich ispivotelly connected to seid butler end to seid coupler, seid equelizernieinber opereting to ceuse seid builer to inove reerwerdly when thecoupler is displeced from its centrelized position.

6. 1n e device of the cherecter in'diceted, the coinbinetion with ecoupler which is provided with ineens whereby it iney be pivotellyconnected to the body of e cer in e yielding inenncr, of e drei'tspring, e spring cushioiied butler which operetes to ineintein thecoupler in e' centrelized position, end en equelizer nieinber .vhich isetteched to seid coupler end to seid buil'er in e inenner which perinitsdreft streins ecting in the longitudinel exis of the cer to be entirelyebsorbed by seid dreit spring.

7. In e device of the cherecter indiceted, the coinbinetion with ecoupler which is provided with ineens whereby it niey be connected tothe body of e cer in e yielding inenner through the inediuni of e dreftspring, of e di'eft spring, e yoke operating upon seid dreft spring endreletively Inove ble longitudinelly with respect to seid coupler, espring cushioned butler, end ineens whereby the leterel displeoernent ofthe coupler iroin its centrelized position is yieldingly resisted byseid buffer.

8. 1n e device of the cherecter indiceted, the coinbinetion with ecoupler heed, of e dreft stein which is pivotelly etteched to seid heedend to the cer body, e dreft spring, e yolie opereting upon seid drelitspring end g lieving e slideble connection with seid dreft g stein, ebuiier heving buiier steins etteched thereto, springs lfor resisting the.inovenicnt i of seid builier steins in one direction, end en oquelizerineinber interposed between seid butler end seid dreft stein endopereting to centrelize seid coupler.

9. 1n e device of the cherecter indiceted, the coinbinetion with ecoupler heed heving e reerwerdly extending drelt-stein which ispivotelly etteched to the body of' e cer in e i yielding` inenner, of ebutler, buffer stenis etteched to seid butler, springs opereted upon owith respect to said coupler, means acting by said buffer stems7 and anequalizer membei: which is pivotally attached to said buffer and to saiddraftl stom, said butler springs being compressed by a lateraldisplacement of the said draft-stem in either direction.

1.0. In a device of the character indicated, the combination with acoupler which is provided with means whereby it may be pivotl allyconnected to the body of a car in a 'y/*ielding manner, of a draftspring, and a pivotally mounted. equalizer member connected with saidcoupler, said equalizer meme ber operating to cause a com )ression ofsaid draft spring` when the coupler is displaced laterally.

11. ln a device ofthe character indicated7 the combination with acoupler, of a yoke which is relatively movable longitudinally upon saidyoke for yieldngly and pivotally connecting said coupler to the carbody, l

and an equalizer member which is cond nected to said cou ler and isrelatively movable longitudina ly with respect thereto said equalizermember operating to centralize said coupler.

12. In a devicevof the character indicated, the combination with acoupler which is provided with means whereby it may be pivotallyconnected to the body of a car in a yielding manner, of a laterallydisplaceable equalizer member the rear end of which is connected to thecoupler and the front end of which is pivotally attached to a movable.

spring-cush1oned support7 and a movable spring-cushioned supportattached to said car.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature, in presence of twosubscribingl witnesses. v/VILLIAM R. MATTHEWS. l/Vitnesses:

FRANK J. BowERY, F. D. ECKER.

